Carleton forward Lloyd Pandi was named recipient of the Mike Moser Memorial Trophy as national player of the year. The second-year commerce major from Ottawa, Ont., was the OUA player of the year and a first-team OUA all-star. In regular season OUA play (14 games), he hit 70-128 (.547) from the floor, 11-22 from the arc and 55-66 (.833) from the line, while garnering 114 boards, including 30 on the offensive glass and an 8.1 rpg, 31 fouls, 44 assists, 26 turnovers, 6 blocks, 24 steals and 206 points, for a 15.0 ppg. The other Moser nominees were Canada West player of the year and defensive player of the year Tyus Jefferson (Alberta); RSEQ player of the year Jamal Mayali (McGill); and AUS player of the year Osman Omar (Cape Breton).
Ryerson’s Aaron Rhooms was named recipient of the Dr. Peter Mullins Trophy as national rookie of the year. The 6-6 forward from Toronto, Ont., was the OUA rookie of year and a first-Team OUA East all-star. An undeclared science major, he previously toiled for Lincoln Prep of the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association and Mississauga St. Martin High. In regular season OUA play (14 games), Rhooms hit 109-207 (.527) from the floor, 14-36 (.389) from the arc and 38-56 (.679) from the line, while garnering 110 boards, including 40 on the offensive glass and a 7.9 rpg, 44 fouls, 26 assists, 43 turnovers, 3 blocks, 14 steals and 270 points, for a 19.3 ppg. The other Mullins nominees were Canada West rookie of the year Elias Ralph (Victoria); RSEQ rookie of the year Haris Elezovic (McGill); and AUS rookie of the year Norm Burry (New Brunswick).
Alberta guard Tyus Jefferson was named national defensive player of the year. The 5th-year, 6-0 guard and arts major from Riverton, Utah, was the Canada West player of the year, defensive player of the year (the first player to accomplish that double), as well as a first-team CanWest all-star.
In regular season Canada West play (16 games), Jefferson hit 93-177 (.525) from the floor, 5-20 from the arc and 43-60 (.717) from the line, while garnering 71 boards, including 16 on the offensive glass and a 4.4 rpg, 24 fouls, 62 assists, 29 turnovers, 3 blocks, 34 steals and 234 points, for a 14.6 ppg. Golden Bears coach Barnaby Craddock said “Tyus’ leadership and fantastic individual play this season has been instrumental to our teams success. He makes his teammates better every time they play with him, and he leads by example with his effort on the defensive end of the floor. It’s great to see Tyus receive this well-deserved honour as he plays basketball the way it’s supposed to be played; with passion, determination and unselfishly as part of a united team.” The other nominees were OUA East division defensive player of the year Maxime Boursiquot (Ottawa); RSEQ defensive player of the year Frantson Demosthene (U.Q.A.M); and AUS defensive player of the year Samuel Maillet (Dalhousie).
Alberta’s Barnaby Craddock was named recipient of the Stuart W. Aberdeen Memorial Trophy as national coach of the year. In his 9th-season at the helm of the Golden Bears, he steered Alberta to a 16-0 regular season record in Canada West play and a 26-2 record overall. As the 3rd-seed in the national tournament, the Golden Bears defeated McGill 85-68 before losing 64-63 to Carleton in the uSports semi-final. The Vancouver, B.C.-born Craddock played for Lethbridge between 1994-97, where he was a CIS second team all-Canadian (1997), and two time Canada West Conference all-star (1996 and 1997). Alberta athletic director Ian Reade said “Barnaby’s work as a coach, recruiter, and leader has once again pushed the Golden Bears up among the true national championship contenders. Even after losing some of the best players to wear the Green and Gold to graduation over the past two years, Barnaby guided the Bears to one of their best regular seasons ever. Having the enormous pressure of hosting the U SPORTS Championship hasn’t fazed this team, and I can’t wait to see the conclusion of this tremendous season.” The other Aberdeen nominees were OUA coach of the year Taffe Charles (Carleton); RSEQ coach of the year Ryan Thorne (McGill); and AUS coach of the year Rick Plato (Dalhousie).
Joining Pandi and Jefferson on the All-Canadian first team were: Tajinder Lall (Brock); Osman Omar (Cape Breton); and Scott Kellum (Victoria). …………………………………………………… Lall, 6-6 guard/forward and psychology-comprehensive stream major from Cambridge, Ont. was the OUA West Division player of the year and a first-team OUA all-star after transferring from Carleton. In regular season OUA play (14 games), Lall hit 113-222 (.509) from the floor, 20-52 (.385) from the arc and 75-95 (.789) from the line, while garnering 114 boards, including 37 on the offensive glass and an 8.1 rpg, 27 fouls, 48 assists, 37 turnovers, 7 blocks 23 steals and 321 points, for a 22.9 ppg. ………………………………………………… Omar, a 6-2 fourth-year guard and community studies major from Mississauga, Ont., was the AUS player of the year and a first-team AUS all-star. In regular season AUS play (15 games), Omar hit 120-274 (.438) from the floor, 21-88 (.239) from the arc and 106-124 (.855) from the line, while garnering 80 boards, including 19 on the offensive glass and a 5.3 rpg, 37 fouls, 33 assists, 31 turnovers, 1 block, 25 steals and 367 points, for a 24.5 ppg. …………………………………………………… Kellum, a 6-1 fifth-year guard and business major from Issaquah, Washington, was a first-team Canada West all-star. In regular season Canada West play (18 games), Kellum hit 93-195 (.477) from the floor, 39-86 (.453) from the arc and 57-72 (.792) from the line, while garnering 59 boards, including 11 on the offensive glass and a 3.3 rpg, 18 fouls, 62 assists, 29 turnovers, 1 block, 18 steals and 282 points, for a 15.7 ppg.
The All-Canadian second team featured: Jamal Mayali (McGill); Alex Carson (Dalhousie); Ali Sow (Wilfrid Laurier); Omar Shiddo (Western); and Elijah Miller (Prince Edward Island). …………………………………………………… Mayali, a 6-1 fifth-year guard and political science major from Toronto, Ont. was the RSEQ player of the year and a first-team all-star. In regular season RSEQ play (12 games), Mayali hit 72-158 (.456) from the floor, 39-93 (.419) from the arc and 37-49 (.755), while garnering 42 boards, including 1 on the offensive glass and a 3.5 rpg, 26 fouls, 28 assists, 26 turnovers, 3 blocks, 18 steals and 220 points, for an 18.3 ppg. …………………………………………………… Carson a 6-5 fifth-year guard and recreation management major from Lower Sackville, N.S. was a first-team AUS all-star. In regular season AUS play (12 games), Carson hit 74-152 (.487) from the floor, 31-77 (.403) from the arc and 43-48 (.896) from the line, while garnering 43 boards, including 9 on the offensive glass and a 3.6 rpg, 27 fouls, 21 assists, 11 turnovers, 4 blocks, 5 steals and 222 points, for an 18.5 ppg. …………………………………………………… Sow, a 6-1 fifth-year guard and global studies major from Ottawa, Ont., was a first-team OUA West division all-star. In regular season OUA play (16 games), Sow hit 135-312 (.433) from the floor, 37-127 (.291) from the arc and 100-131 (.763) from the line, while garnering 96 boards, including 10 on the offensive glass and a 6.0 rpg, 19 fouls, 84 assists, 53 turnovers, 4 blocks, 27 steals and 407 points, for a 25.4 ppg. …………………………………………………… Shiddo, a 6-1 fifth-year guard and arts major from Brampton, Ont., was a first-team OUA West division all-star. In regular season OUA play (13 games), Shiddo hit 110-286 (.385) from the floor, 34-117 (.291) from the arc and 113-125 (.904) from the line, while garnering 59 boards, including 8 on the offensive glass and a 4.5 rpg, 33 fouls, 67 assists, 49 turnovers, 1 block, 22 steals and 367 points, for a 28.2 ppg. …………………………………………………… Miller, a 5-11 second-year guard and business administration major from Etobicoke, Ont., was a first-team AUS all-star. In regular season AUS play (14 games), Miller hit 91-205 (.444) from the floor, 16-56 (.286) from the arc and 48-58 (.828) from the line, while garnering 70 boards, including 10 on the offensive glass and a 5.0 rpg, 27 fouls, 78 assists, 37 turnovers, 2 blocks, 32 steals and 246 points, for a 17.6 ppg.
Joining Rhooms on the All-Canadian rookie team were: Norm Burry (New Brunswick); Elias Ralph (Victoria); Haris Elezovic (McGill); and Jayrell Diggs (Saint Mary’s). …………………………………………………… Burry, a 6-4 forward and chemistry major from Grafton, N.B., was the AUS rookie of the year. In regular season AUS play (15 games), Burry hit 59-121 (.488) from the floor, 23-47 (.489) from the arc and 49-65 (.754) from the line, while garnering 68 boards, including 22 on the offensive glass and a 4.5 rpg, 23 fouls, 18 assists, 22 turnovers, 1 block, 5 steals and 190 points, for a 12.7 ppg. …………………………………………………… Ralph, a 6-6 guard and humanities major from Okotoks, Alta., was the Canada West rookie of the year. Vikes coach Craig Beaucamp said “Elias is a unique player with his skill and size. He plays mature for a young guy. You rarely see a kid his size with his skill set: he’s a terrific athlete, and his fitness and physicality were off the charts from the beginning. Most importantly, his practice habits are excellent, consistently bringing his best effort.” In regular season Canada West play (18 games), Ralph hit 66-136 (.485) from the floor, 21-56 (.375) from the arc and 16-19 (.842) from the line, while garnering 78 boards, including 31 on the offensive glass and a 4.3 rpg, 37 fouls, 21 assists, 31 turnovers, 14 blocks, 12 steals and 169 points, for a 9.4 ppg. …………………………………………………… Elezovic, a 6-8 second-year forward and management major from Sherbrooke, Que., was the RSEQ rookie of the year. In regular season RSEQ play (12 games), Elezovic hit 46-96 (.479) from the floor, 4-12 from the arc and 38-50 (.760) from the line, while garnering 89 boards, including 29 on the offensive glass and a 7.4 rpg, 32 fouls, 12 assists, 29 turnovers, 1 block, 6 steals and 134 points, for an 11.2 ppg. …………………………………………………… Diggs, a 6-0 guard from East Preston, N.S., was an AUS all-rookie selection. In regular season AUS play (14 games), Diggs hit 56-115 (.487) from the floor, 31-65 (.477) from the arc and 15-19 (.789) from the line, while garnering 47 boards, including 8 on the offensive glass and a 3.4 rpg, 31 fouls, 13 assists, 14 turnovers, 1 block, 14 steals and 158 points, for an 11.3 ppg.